100 Stories > William Marshall (d. 1995)

William Marshall died aged 101 in 1995. He was thought to be the last survivor of the “Accrington Pals.”

William lived on Manchester Road at the time of the war. He was badly injured at the Somme, and witnessed the death of many of his friends.

He wrote a poem, entitled ‘Pals’:

There are tear-dimmed eyes in the town today
There are lips to be no more kissed
There are bosoms that swell with an aching heart,
When they think of a dear one missed

But time will prove their heartfelt grief;
Of their sons they will proudly tell,
How in the gallant charge in this world wide war
As “Pals” they fought and fell.